Seeking Advice: What to Buy

[dribelin]

I hate that this is my first post to the forum, but I've been around reading for a while and generally appreciate the advice given out to folks.

With that said, I'm looking for some advice on what camera/lenses to buy. My wife inherited a M6ttl a while back and I've been using it for about a year now and love it. Unfortunately, her family has decided to sell the photography equipment which also includes:

Noctilux f1
90 Summicron APO
50 Lux V2
50 Elmar
28 Summicron ASPH

My wife is generously allowing me to keep her half of the money raised for new camera gear. While I know this is a very personal decision, I'm struggling to guide my thoughts along a single path. I'm not entirely, but mostly, opposed to digital, though I do sometimes consider the Q. I own an M3 and a CV35 that I will keep. Unfortunately, this sale will leave me without lenses for the M3 or a camera for the CV.

I'm and leaning towards another M6, but also considering an MP. I mostly use my 50s and 35, but the 90 does get a fair amount of use as well. I want to stay with the Leica brand for cameras, but not necessarily lenses if it makes sense.

Sorry if I've been a bit wordy, but any advice on what direction to take would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Austin

 

[rfaspen]

So you have been playing with a Noctilux, summilux, AA 90 summicron, and 28 cron? Now you have to give it all back?

Can you quietly leave the country?

Just considering all the options here..... 🙂

 

[Fraser]

But do you not still have the M6ttl? and rather than your wife getting money from the sale can she not just have a lens?

 

[Out to Lunch]

Sorry to say that your post/request for advice is as clear as mud. Perhaps you'd want to rephrase it.

 

[dribelin]

But do you not still have the M6ttl? and rather than your wife getting money from the sale can she not just have a lens?

I've brought up selling some lenses and paying my wife's family for a few items I'd like to keep, but due to the potential issues that can arise when dealing with money and family, I've been "advised" that we need to sell everything.

Sorry to say that your post/request for advice is as clear as mud. Perhaps you'd want to rephrase it.

Peter, I do tend to get a little wordy. Bottom line, I have to sell all the stuff my wife inherited, but I get to use 1/2 the proceeds to buy more (partially replace) camera gear. I'm struggling to decide what camera/lens combo to purchase. M6/MP/Q, digital/film, etc? Folks on the forum have experience with far more equipment than I, so was looking for everyone's thoughts.:bang:

 

[Fraser]

Ah I see could get complicated!
Good luck I've no idea.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I'd probably let your family handle the sales and stay altogether out of it. Hard feelings can occur, particularly if someone decides they could have gotten more for an item than you paid for it. If you don't want to follow that advice, I'd buy the 50mm Summicron for your M3.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Now I understand. On digital vs. analogue: it all depends on your preferences. No one can give you a definite answer. Some issues to consider: is 35mm film/developing/scanning easily available at a reasonable cost?

Digital may seem the easier/cheaper way to go but consider whether or not your computer, software, monitor, and printer are up to par. If not calculate the cost of the necessary upgrades.

On analogue cameras: the M6 is great -you are familiar with it, and if you have to consider cost, the MP does not offer incredible advantages.

On lenses: Leica glass is often but not always superior while it is always much more expensive than the competition. Voigtlander and Zeiss-Ikon lenses are good at a lower price point.

On digital: I believe the Leica Q is very expensive. You'd be able to find similar quality with brands like Fuji, Panasonic and Olympus to name a few.

Good luck!
Cheers, Peter

 

[BillBingham2]

My head hurts from trying to get a handle on this.

No clear answers, lots of questions.

Not sure how much you are getting and how much the Elmar is going for. One part of me says sell the CV and fund the purchase to keep one part of what the family had.

They should give you a deal on the Elmar, but each family is different.

B2 (;->

 

[skopar steve]

Staying out of the sale is good advice, but it would be a tragedy if the gear goes for less than your willing to pay. It's hard to give advice on what you should get without knowing how much you have to work with.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

With half of what that sale will get you should be able to easily find near perfect optics in good user lenses.
Here's what I might do if I really liked those focal lengths; get a mint 90mm Elmarit, a mint 50mm DR Summicron and a good 35mm viewfinder for your CV lens if you want to keep that lens. If you're spoiled by shooting with two bodies now, find a user M2. You'll probably still be under budget with all that gear to afford a bunch of film.

Phil Forrest

 

[Ko.Fe.]

OP is clear as mud to me...

I would buy Noctilux f1.

 

[jsrockit]

Bottom line, I have to sell all the stuff my wife inherited, but I get to use 1/2 the proceeds to buy more (partially replace) camera gear. I'm struggling to decide what camera/lens combo to purchase. M6/MP/Q, digital/film, etc? Folks on the forum have experience with far more equipment than I, so was looking for everyone's thoughts.:bang:

It will be a lot of cash after the sale no? Free cash?

First, buy a nice gift for your wife. Then buy the Q, a M6, and whichever lens you need for the M3 (50mm Planar / CV Nokton 1.5 on the cheap end, something Leica on the more expensive side). If you have leftover... buy another lens for the M6.

 

[creenus]

Phil's reply below seems very reasonable. I imagine it would take some time to sell that gear, and being an in-law thing, depends on the price expectations of the seller. It's great that your wife will give you some cash for camera gear.

For film, I personally like the M2 - very simple and basic and can handle the 35mm you have. I also like the M6 Classic - the metering is really useful.

For digital you can get a DSLR kit with a zoom lens. Canon has the new Rebel 7 and Nikon has the D5600. Both are DX format and are rated highly at about 24 gigabytes. I have the D5600 with a Nikkor 50mm f1.8, a lens that acts as a short telephoto in the DX format, and I like it a lot. I got mine used for $550. Of course, you may prefer the digital rangefinder format, and the Q is a dandy, I hear.

Good luck in your decision, and keep us posted.

Best regards,

Steve in New Mexico

With half of what that sale will get you should be able to easily find near perfect optics in good user lenses.
Here's what I might do if I really liked those focal lengths; get a mint 90mm Elmarit, a mint 50mm DR Summicron and a good 35mm viewfinder for your CV lens if you want to keep that lens. If you're spoiled by shooting with two bodies now, find a user M2. You'll probably still be under budget with all that gear to afford a bunch of film.

Phil Forrest

 

[jaapv]

Get your family to put the stuff on eBay and join the bidding. That way nobody can accuse you of taking advantage.

 

[raid]

How large of a sum will you have access to?
I am "basic" in my suggestion: M6 + 50/2 Summicron.
There are many other options, of course.

 

[dribelin]

Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. It's definitely helping me gather my thoughts a bit better on a way forward.

I'd probably let your family handle the sales and stay altogether out of it. Hard feelings can occur, particularly if someone decides they could have gotten more for an item than you paid for it. If you don't want to follow that advice, I'd buy the 50mm Summicron for your M3.

I agree with this advice, but unfortunately, the rest of the family doesn't really even know where to start to come up with prices or to sell the equipment. They have asked that I take care of the sales, but I plan on telling them to do a bit of research so they get an idea of the anticipated sales prices. What makes it even more painful is that i just had Youxin Ye perform a CLA and an MP finder/window upgrade on the M6.

With half of what that sale will get you should be able to easily find near perfect optics in good user lenses.
Here's what I might do if I really liked those focal lengths; get a mint 90mm Elmarit, a mint 50mm DR Summicron and a good 35mm viewfinder for your CV lens if you want to keep that lens. If you're spoiled by shooting with two bodies now, find a user M2. You'll probably still be under budget with all that gear to afford a bunch of film.

Phil Forrest

Phil, this advice spoke to me. I have become quite used to two cameras, but I do like the idea of a 50/35 with the M3/2 combo without other lens choices. I definitely like having the meter in the M6, but there is something freeing to go meterless.

How large of a sum will you have access to?
I am "basic" in my suggestion: M6 + 50/2 Summicron.
There are many other options, of course.

Raid, I'm not exactly sure what the total value is, but I think that between the camera and lenses, maybe around 10-12K. My wife (me) would get half of it. I've tried to guesstimate and have discounted from Ebay (which always seems high) and KEH, BH, etc. I could also be way off on my estimate, so please don't hesitate to correct me if I'm high.

Thanks again for all the comments.

 

[benlees]

Confused. If your wife inherited the M6 why does this need to be sold?

Finding prices for Leica is relatively straightforward- avoid ebay. Keh, Igor's camera (both US), there's a couple of London based Leica shops, quite a few European resellers. An hour on the 'net should give an accurate window.

 

[d_c]

If you take the equipment to a known reseller and get it valued then IME you will probably get two figures back. The first (lower) value will represent a clean sale to the reseller which will be roughly half their shop window price. The second (higher) value will represent the value achieved on commission, i.e. approx 80% of the resale price on the basis that you still own it if it doesn't sell, but that they charge 20% to sell it in your behalf. This second value is what you need to work with.

If you can get a valuation done like this then you would be able to quickly work out what the each item of equipment will realise and what the overall value of the collection is. It should then be a simple matter of offering the family the equivalent of the commission values on the bits you can afford.

The case you can make to the family for this is that they would get no more money by selling it to the reseller, and at least some of the equipment would stay in the family for photography.

The case you can make to yourself is that by buying the equipment at reseller cost price you will get more for your money.

You only have to decide what you want to keep and can afford.

 

[retinax]

If you take the equipment to a known reseller and get it valued then IME you will probably get two figures back. The first (lower) value will represent a clean sale to the reseller which will be roughly half their shop window price. The second (higher) value will represent the value achieved on commission, i.e. approx 80% of the resale price on the basis that you still own it if it doesn't sell, but that they charge 20% to sell it in your behalf. This second value is what you need to work with.

If you can get a valuation done like this then you would be able to quickly work out what the each item of equipment will realise and what the overall value of the collection is. It should then be a simple matter of offering the family the equivalent of the commission values on the bits you can afford.

The case you can make to the family for this is that they would get no more money by selling it to the reseller, and at least some of the equipment would stay in the family for photography.

The case you can make to yourself is that by buying the equipment at reseller cost price you will get more for your money.

You only have to decide what you want to keep and can afford.

Seconded. I'd just suggest offering a bit more than what the reseller would pay, perhaps half the difference, that way the family also benefits from doing it this way and not only you, less likely to cause bad feelings.
Unless your wife's family has been really complicated, selling the things you actually want to someone else seems overkill just to avoid potential issues. Just make sure to get price estimates in the presence of all parties concerned and that everything leaves a paper trail because people quickly forget how things went.
As to what to keep, only you can decide really. Personally, I'd sell the Noctilux or other extremely precious things because I'd be too worried about their value to use them. Digital vs. film of course has been discussed to death and is again something only you can decide. If you haven't missed digital so far, maybe just stick with film?